RESOLUTIONS

 

 

CD31.R1    The Directing Council,

 Having noted that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is celebrating the XXV Anniversary of its fruitful existence:

 In recognition of the valuable contribution made by the IDB to the countries of the Americas in the mobilization of finance in support of their development and particularly for the satisfaction of the basic health needs of their population;

 In recognition also of the valuable encouragement and unflagging support that the President of the Bank, Mr. Antonio Ortiz Mena, has given to PAHO in its efforts to improve the health conditions of the peoples of the Americas; and

 Desirous of commemorating this anniversary of the IDB in a proper and significant way,

Resolves:

1. To hold during its XXXI Meeting a special session in commemoration of the XXV Anniversary of the IDB.

2. To memorialize the XXV Anniversary of the IDB on a commemorative plaque.

3. To confer on the President of the Bank, Mr. Antonio Ortiz Mena, a special diploma conveying the appreciation of the Directing Council of PAHO.

4. To request the President of the XXXI Meeting of the Directing Council to present the aforementioned commemorative plaque and diploma to the President of the IDB in the special session on behalf of the Council.

September 1985 OD 203, 44

 

 

CD31.R2    The Directing Council,

 Having learned with deep sorrow of the catastrophe that has overtaken the United States of Mexico, where a major earthquake has caused tragic loss of life and heavy material damage,

Resolves:

1. To express to the Government and the people of Mexico its deep sorrow at the tragedy which has befallen the country.

2. To convey to the victims' families, to all the Mexican people, and to the authorities, a message expressing the sympathy and solidarity shared by all the Member Countries of the Pan American Health Organization.

3. To urge all Member Countries to participate in providing assistance to the United States of Mexico, not only to the immediate consequences of the disaster but especially to the effort of reconstruction.

4. To urge international organizations, taking into account this tragedy, to give special understanding and support to the United States of Mexico, especially regarding its economic and financial obligations.

5. To request the Director to provide every assistance within the means of the Organization.

September 1985 OD 203, 45

 

 

CD31.R3    The Directing Council,

 Having seen the Annual Report of the Chairman of the Executive Committee (Document CD31/5 and Corrig.) on the work of the Committee from October 1984 to date, the period during which the 94th and 95th Meetings were held; and

 Bearing in mind the provisions of Article 9.C of the Constitution of the Pan American Health Organization,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the Annual Report of the Chairman of the Executive Committee (Document CD31/5 and Corrig.).

2. To congratulate the Chairman and the other members of the Committee on their excellent work.

September 1985 OD 203, 45

 

 

CD31.R4    The Directing Council,

 Having seen the Annual Report of the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau for 1984 (Official Document 201);

 Bearing in mind the provisions of Article 9.C of the Constitution of the Pan American Health Organization; and

 Noting with satisfaction the new changes and adjustments in the Report's structure and content, such as; in Part I, the analysis of the regional situation, the critical problems of the health sector and the approaches being followed to overcome them; in Part III, the description of those steps taken by Member Governments and by the Secretariat in 1984 to implement the resolutions approved by the Governing Bodies in 1983 as well as the responsibilities for both Member Governments and the Secretariat stemming from key resolutions approved in 1984; and in Part V, the identification of essential information regarding levels of health in each country, together with pertinent data on external resource mobilization,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the Annual Report of the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau for 1984.

2. To commend the Director for his continued efforts to transform his report into an instrument which can assist in the evaluation of the country/PAHO joint programming.

3. To thank the Director for his leadership and support to the Member Governments in the health programs and activities conducted by PAHO during 1984.

September 1985 OD 203, 46

 

 

CD31.R5    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the Interim Financial Report of the Director for the year 1984 (Official Document 200 and Add. I);

 Noting the report of the 95th Meeting of the Executive Committee on its review of the financial statements and relevant schedules of the Organization as contained in Official Document 200 and Add. I, particularly its concerns regarding the status of quota contributions; and

 Recognizing that the Organization continues to be in a sound financial situation,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the Interim Financial Report of the Director for the year 1984 (Official Document 200 and Add. I).

2. To fully endorse the comments and concerns expressed by the 95th Meeting of the Executive Committee in its report on the financial condition of the Organization as of 31 December 1984.

3. To commend the Director for having maintained the Organization in a sound financial condition.

September 1985 OD 203, 47

 

 

CD31.R6    The Directing Council,

 Having seen the report of the Director on the collection of quota contributions (Document CD31/27 and Add. I);

 Noting the report of the Working Party on the application of Article 6.B of the PAHO Constitution relating to the suspension of voting privileges of Member Governments that fail to meet their financial obligations to the Organization (Document CD31/27, Add. II); and

 Recognizing that, in the case of the three Member Governments subject to Article 6.B, the Government of Haiti has generally complied with its approved payment plan and the Governments of the Dominican Republic and Paraguay have, at this session of the Directing Council, presented plans of payment which are both acceptable to the Organization and to this Council,

Resolves:

1. To take note of the report of the Director on the collection of quota contributions (Document CD31/27 and Add. I)

2. To thank the Member Governments that have already made payments in 1985, and to continue to urge the Member Governments in arrears to fulfill their financial obligations to the Organization in a prompt and responsible manner.

3. To permit the Government of Haiti to vote at this Meeting of the Directing Council, in view of its compliance with the payment plan established with the Organization.

4. To permit the Governments of Paraguay and the Dominican Republic to vote at this meeting of the Directing Council in view of the payment commitments provided by their Representatives at this session; and to recommend that if adequate payments under these commitments are not made by the opening dates of the XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference or future meetings of the Directing Council the voting restrictions contained in Article 6 B be rigorously applied.

5. To request the Director:

a) To monitor carefully the implementation of the agreements made by Member Governments in arrears for the payment of their quota contributions;

b) To advise the Executive Committee of countries' compliance with their commitments for the liquidation of their arrearages;

c) To report to the XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference on the status of the collection of quota contributions for 1986 and prior years.

September 1985 OD 203, 47

 

 

CD31.R7    The Directing Council

Elected Argentina, Bahamas, and Mexico to the Executive Committee upon termination of the periods of office of Cuba, Ecuador, and the United States of America, and thanked the Governments of these countries for the services rendered to the Organization by their representatives on the Committee.

Sept. 1985 OD 203, 48

 

 

CD31.R8    The Directing Council,

Resolves:

1. To appropriate for the financial period 1986-1987 an amount of US$128,028,600, as follows:

In establishing the contributions of Member and Participating Governments, their assessments shall be reduced further by the amount standing to their credit in the Tax Equalization Fund, except that credits of those countries which levy taxes on the emoluments received from the Pan American Health Organization by their nationals and residents shall be reduced by the amounts of such tax reimbursements by PAHO.

3. That, in accordance with the Financial Regulations of PAHO, amounts not exceeding the appropriations noted under paragraph 1 shall be available for the payment of obligations incurred during the period 1 January 1986 to 31 December 1987, inclusive. Notwithstanding the provision of this paragraph, obligations during the financial period 1986–1987 shall be limited to the effective working budget, i.e., Parts I–V.

4. That the Director shall be authorized to transfer credits between parts of the effective working budget, provided that such transfers of credits between parts as are made do not exceed 10% of the part from which the credit is transferred. Transfers of credits between parts of the budget in excess of 10% of the part from which the credit is transferred may be made with the concurrence of the Executive Committee. All transfers of budget credits shall be reported to the Directing Council and/or the Conference.

5. That the Director increase progressively the relative allocation of resources to the country programs.

September 1985 OD 203, 49

 

 

CD31.R9    The Directing Council,

 Whereas Member Governments appearing in the scale adopted by the Organization of American States (OAS) are assessed according to the percentages shown in that scale in compliance with Article 60 of the Pan American Sanitary Code; and

 Whereas other Member and Participating Governments are assessed on the basis of percentages which would be assigned to such countries if they were subject to the OAS scale,

Resolves:

 To establish the assessments of the Member and Participating Governments of the Pan American Health Organization for the financial period 1986–1987 in accordance with the scale of quotas shown below and in the corresponding amounts.

September 1985 OD 203, 50

 

 

CD31.R10    The Directing Council,

 Having seen Document CD31/29 on the regional program budget policy;

 Bearing in mind Resolution XV of the 92nd Meeting of the Executive Committee which supported the Managerial Strategy for the Optimum Use of PAHO/WHO Resources in Direct Support of Member Countries;

 Considering Resolution EB75.R71 of the 75th Meeting of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization, calling for the preparation of regional program budget policies, and Resolution WHA38.112 of the Thirty-eighth World Health Assembly, which strongly supported the preparation of such policies by the Regional Committee; and

 Taking into consideration Resolution XI of the 95th Meeting of the Executive Committee,

Resolves:

1. To express its appreciation to the Director for the preparation of the regional program budget policy and for submitting it to the Governing Bodies for their examination and review.

2. To approve the regional program budget policy (Document CD31/29) and to urge its immediate implementation.

3. To request Member Governments to study the regional program budget policy and to participate actively in its implementation.

4. To request the Director to submit the regional program budget policy to the Executive Board of the World Health Organization.

5. To request the Director to provide wide distribution of the regional program budget policy through the Organization and to discuss with Member Governments immediate actions for its implementation.

6. To request the Director to report to the Governing Bodies on its implementation in relation to the execution of the 1986–1987 Program Budget and to the preparation of the 1988–1989 Program Budget.

September 1985 OD 203, 52

 

 

CD31.R11    The Directing Council,

 Considering that there is a one-time need to capitalize the PAHO Building Fund to meet office space requirements for PASB staff in the new building to be constructed on the Governor Shepherd building site;

 Bearing in mind Resolution XVI of the XXVI Meeting of the Directing Council which authorized the transfer of funds into the Building Fund to purchase a building for the Area II Office and that there is currently $128,220 in the Building Fund reserved for that purpose; and

 Noting the availability of land rent from the Governor Shepherd site and the need to pay operational/rental costs for temporary office space awaiting completion of the new building and for the PAHO office space in the new building,

Resolves:

1. To approve the capitalization of the PAHO Building Fund to meet requirements, not to exceed $915,000, relating to PAHO office space in the new building to be constructed on the Governor Shepherd building site.

2. To approve the Director's recommendations for the utilization of the following funds for capitalization of the Building Fund for the requirements indicated in operative paragraph 1 above:

a) $200,000 in land rent to be paid to PAHO in 1986 by the developer of the new building on the Governor Shepherd building site;

b) $128,220 currently reserved from the PAHO Building Fund for purchase of an Area II office building,

c) $197,000 in other estimated available balances in the PAHO Building Fund;

d) Up to $390,000 in potential savings in the 1984–1985 PAHO Regular Budget.

3. To report to the Executive Committee in June 1986 on the implementation of operative paragraphs 1 and 2 above.

September 1985 OD 203, 53

 

 

CD31.R12    The Directing Council,

 Considering that the PAHO Headquarters building is 20 years old and has started to require major maintenance and repairs;

 Recognizing that so long as PAHO owns office buildings in Buenos Aires, Guatemala, Brasília, Lima, and Caracas, PAHO is responsible for major maintenance and repair of these five buildings;

 Noting that there is a need for further capitalization of the PAHO Building Fund to meet future requirements for major maintenance and repair of PAHO-owned buildings;

 Noting that during the negotiations between PAHO and WHO to develop a cost-sharing formula for financing real estate operations in the Region of the Americas, PAHO proposed a reimbursement percentage in the range of 29–34%;

 Bearing in mind that the WHO Director-General has decided that PAHO will receive a 25% reimbursement for all PAHO/WHO major construction and repair projects (over $20,000) which are deemed qualified for cost-sharing by the WHO Building Program Committee; and

 Noting that PAHO will be returning to the WHO Real Estate Fund the allocation of $250,000 which was authorized by the World Health Assembly towards the construction of a building for the joint WHO/PAHO Publications and Documentation Service (SEPU) and the office of the PAHO Representative in Mexico,

Resolves:

1. To approve the recommendations of the Director for further capitalization of the PAHO Building Fund to meet future requirements for major maintenance and repair of PAHO-owned buildings.

2. To authorize the Director to utilize the following funds for capitalization of the Building Fund as indicated in operative paragraph 1 above:

a) Up to $100,000 per year of excess miscellaneous income earned over the amount of miscellaneous income appropriated by the PAHO Governing Bodies;

b) Up to $150,000 per year of revenues received from land and space rentals, other sales and services and program support costs.

3. To establish a policy that the money for the PAHO Building Fund as indicated in operative paragraph 2 above be used to finance major maintenance and repair projects of $20,000 and over.

4. To urge the Director to continue to negotiate with the Director-General of WHO a mutually satisfactory level of percentage participation by WHO in the Region of the Americas' program budget for all PAHO/WHO major construction and repair projects (over $20,000) which are deemed qualified for cost-sharing by the WHO Building Program Committee and to report on the progress of these negotiations to the meeting of the Executive Committee in June 1986.

5. To establish a ceiling of $500,000 in the PAHO Building Fund for the maintenance and repair of PAHO-owned buildings.

6. To request the Director to present annually to the Executive Committee for approval a proposed maintenance and repair program for the succeeding year, and to report yearly to the Executive Committee for its approval all expenditures charged to the PAHO Building Fund during the preceding year.

September 1985 OD 203, 54

 

 

CD31.R13    The Directing Council,

 Having seen the report presented by the Director on the actions taken in regard to the elimination and functions of the Area Offices of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau (Document CD31/11);

 Considering Resolution II of the XXIX Meeting of the Directing Council; and

 Bearing in mind the report of the Executive Committee on this topic,

Resolves:

1. To request the Director:

a) To continue negotiations with the Governments of Argentina, Guatemala, Peru, and Venezuela to finalize new Basic Agreements for the establishment of Country Representatives' Offices, similar to the agreements in effect with other Member Governments of the Organization;

b) To continue negotiations with the Member Governments for contributions towards the operating costs of Country Offices, in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Agreements between PAHO/WHO and the Governments;

c) To continue negotiations with the Governments of Argentina, Guatemala, Peru, and Venezuela regarding the future status of the PAHO-owned buildings currently occupied by the Country Representatives Offices in those countries;

d) To continue efforts to ensure that the Organization's Country Representatives play their important part in the development of the Organization's strategies and cooperation programs;

e) To continue the evaluation of the need for and use of the Organization's multicountry resources in the field and take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that those resources are put to the best possible use;

f) To report to the Executive Committee in 1986 on the progress of the above-mentioned negotiations.1

2. To urge the Governments to cooperate with the Director in the implementation of these measures.

September 1985 OD 203, 56

 

 

CD31.R14    The Directing Council,

 Acknowledging that the International Decade for Women has revealed that women's health is an important determinant of national development and that a nation's health is also dependent upon women's development, particularly in the sectors of health, education and employment;

 Recognizing that women represent approximately 80% of all health care providers in the majority of countries of the Region, but are still underrepresented at policy, planning and decision-making levels;

 Taking into consideration that the Region's poorest segments of urban and rural society are overrepresented by women, particularly those who have sole responsibility for children or who are aged and infirm;

 Reaffirming the continuing importance of all PAHO resolutions dealing with women, health and development (CSP19.R37, CD23.R10, CD24.R25, CD27.R17, CD28.R15, CSP21.R27, CD29.R22, CD30.R6), as well as the most recent World Health Assembly resolution on the subject (WHA38.271);

 Commending the Director on the achievements thus far in collaboration with the Member Governments, the inter-agency cooperation, as well as the beginning of collaboration with the nongovernmental sector, particularly in health education;

 Further commending the Director for the notable progress in the establishment and development of women, health and development Focal Points in Member Countries and in PAHO, for the help and encouragement of the Regional Focal Point through field visits, workshops and seminars, for the important paper on cervical cancer, and on the recent publication2 on the health of women in the Americas;

 Realizing that at the end of the Decade significant efforts are required to improve the health status of women and to enhance their effective participation in health care in the Region;

 Furthermore, recognizing that the women, health and development goals and activities remain an integral part of the regional strategies to attain health for all by the year 2000 and, indeed, that its attainment is impossible without women's active participation as agents and beneficiaries; and

 Acknowledging that the Forward-Looking Strategies recently articulated by WHO and more generally stated at the 1985 World Conference on Women require regional interpretation and implementation,

Resolves:

1. To urge the Member Governments;

a) To review, reaffirm and renew their commitment to the goals of women, health and development which address the physical and mental health needs of women in their productive and reproductive roles in the context of socioeconomic development and adopt effective action plans based on the Forward-Looking Strategies as well as the Regional Strategies to achieve health for all by the year 2000;

b) To recognize the actual and potential contributions of women to the health sector and to overall socioeconomic development by working systematically to integrate women into all levels of health planning, organization and delivery of health care;

c) To strengthen the capacities of women, health and development Focal Points to stimulate appropriate action and to monitor and report on progress attained.

2 To request that the Director:

a) Reaffirm PAHO's commitment to carrying out the continuing mandates of the Organization related to women, health and development and the Forward-Looking Strategies by:

i) Providing full support for the Regional Program on Women, Health and Development as an integral part of PAHO's overall responsibilities, and ensuring that PAHO's programs focus clearly on women's health needs and contributions;

ii) Stimulating education for women as users and providers of health and, in coordination with other international organizations, encouraging Member Governments to assist women to overcome obstacles to the fulfillment of their roles in the health sector;

iii) Developing regional forward-looking strategies and guidelines for action to be integrated into short-term plans, medium-term plans, and long-term plans for women, health and development as part of the regional strategies to achieve health for all by the year 2000;

b) Convene the Special Subcommittee on Women, Health and Development once a year to monitor progress, to propose solutions to problems identified and to promote concerted action on women, health and development.

3. To recommend to the Executive Committee that it expand the membership of its Special Subcommittee on Women, Health and Development from three to five members for the purpose of broadening representation from the subregions of the Region of the Americas.

September 1985 OD 203, 57

 

 

CD31.R15    The Directing Council,

 Having seen the Director's report on the holding of Technical Discussions during meetings of the Governing Bodies (Document CD31/12);

 Considering that the Technical Discussions are held during the meetings of the Governing Bodies in the years in which the Organization's biennial program budget is not discussed;

 Aware of a downtrend in the number of persons attending the Technical Discussions, even in 1984, when they were held on the Friday and Saturday of the first week of the meeting of the Directing Council; and

 Mindful that there are more efficient and less costly arrangements for exchanges of technical information on priority public health matters,

Resolves:

1. To suspend, starting in 1986, the holding of Technical Discussions during meetings of the Pan American Sanitary Conference and the Directing Council.

2. To request the Director to use other arrangements for exchanges of technical information in the most efficient way possible.

September 1985 OD 203, 59

 

 

CD31.R16    The Directing Council,

 Having considered the report of the Director on the Health of Adults Program (Document CD31/21);

 Recognizing that changes in their population structures and health profiles have prompted many countries in the Region to take note of the growing priority of the health of adults and the elderly;

 Noting that the program presented gives particular emphasis to the prevention of harm and promotion of health, and to the importance of the area of health services and the integration approach in the setting of primary health care; and

 Considering that some Governments have already launched programs with this comprehensive approach to the design of measures for the promotion of health and the control of risk and injury factors,

Resolves:

1. To urge the Member Governments, in their health programs, to incorporate activities for the health care of adults, geared to the primary health care approach, into their general health services at all levels of care.

2. To recommend to the Member Governments that they publicize the decision to emphasize primary prevention and early detection work in this field, particularly activities relating to lifestyles, harmful habits, and exposure to environmental pollutants.

3. To encourage Member Governments that have already launched programs to share their knowledge of and experience in successful efforts with other countries, with the collaboration of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau.

4. To convey to the Director its satisfaction with the strategies and basic approaches of technical cooperation under the Health of Adults Program in general, and its subprograms in particular.

5. To request the Director to give due attention to the epidemiological component and the strategy of prevention and health promotion under the Program, and particularly to its comprehensive intra-and intersectoral approach.

6. To request the Director to impart new dynamism to the Organization's programs and activities in this program area as budgetary limitations permit, and to continue the efforts needed to obtain extrabudgetary funds.

September 1985 OD 203, 59

 

 

CD31.R17    The Directing Council

 Having considered the resolutions approved in the IV Inter-American Meeting, at the Ministerial Level, on Animal Health (RIMSA IV), held in Brazil from 1 to 3 May 1985 (Document CD31/28);

 Aware that the technical cooperation of the Pan American Zoonoses (CEPANZO) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PANAFTOSA) Centers has been meeting the growing demands of the Ministers of Agriculture of the Region;

 Cognizant of the effort made by the Government of Argentina in contributing new installations to CEPANZO for the benefit of the Member Governments of PAHO, thereby expanding its physical capacity to provide technical cooperation in the different areas of veterinary public health and animal health;

 Cognizant of the benefit that the countries of the Region have derived from PAHO support to the holding of technical meetings prior to the meetings of the Regional Coordinating Committee of the Codex Alimentarius for Latin America and the Caribbean; and

 Aware of the need to integrate and coordinate the efforts of the health and agricultural sectors so as to pool efforts in areas of mutual interest, and that both sectors have infrastructures and human resources engaged in activities and programs that bear on the protection of foods and control of zoonoses,

Resolves:

1. To thank the Government of Argentina for its support in the acquisition and outfitting of CEPANZO's new headquarters.

2. To thank the Ministers of Agriculture for their financial support in strengthening the technical cooperation provided by CEPANZO to the agricultural sector.

3. To support the Director's initiative in the efforts in progress to facilitate and formalize the mobilization of contributions from the agricultural sector to CEPANZO

4. To recommend to the Bureau that it draw up as soon as possible a regional plan of action for the protection of foods, based on the approaches that emerged from the Technical Discussions1 of the XXVIII Meeting of the Directing Council of PAHO (1981), to support the organization, coordination, and improvement of national food protection services.

5. To request the Director to continue holding meetings, workshops, short courses, and seminars as an adjunct to the meetings of the Regional Coordinating Committee of the Codex Alimentarius for Latin America and the Caribbean.

6. To recommend to Member Governments that have not yet done so that they establish veterinary public health programs in their Ministries of Health, and to the Bureau that it collaborate with them in the organization and development of those programs in order to pool efforts and integrate the joint resources of the health and agricultural sectors.

7. To request the Director to devise, under the regional technical cooperation program, mechanisms and methodologies for implementing and strengthening the linkages between the health and agricultural sectors for the improvement of health, socioeconomic development, and human welfare.

September 1985 OD 203, 60

 

 

CD31.R18    The Directing Council,

 Having examined the report of the Director (Document CD31/24) on the progress that the Organization and the countries have made in the implementation of Resolution VIII of the XXX Meeting of the Directing Council, "Basis for the Definition of the Organization's Action Policy with Respect to Population Matters,"

Resolves:

1. To request the Member Governments:

a) To continue their efforts to implement as quickly as possible the mandates unanimously adopted in the resolution on the "Basis for the Definition of the Organization's Action Policy with Respect to Population Matters";

b) To direct their efforts at overcoming the limiting factors identified in the Director's report.

2. To request the Director:

a) To continue supporting the activities needed to carry out the measures begun during the period covered by the report, with special attention to those for the mobilization of resources and coordination of efforts at the national and international levels;

b) To present a progress report to the meeting of the Directing Council in 1988.

September 1985 OD 203, 62

 

 

CD31.R19    The Directing Council,

 Considering the revision made to the schedule of salaries of the professional and higher categories of staff in graded posts, effective 1 January 1985;

 Taking into account the decision by the Executive Committee at its 95th Meeting to adjust the salaries of the Deputy Director and the Assistant Director (Resolution CE95.R4);

 Having noted the recommendation of the Executive Committee concerning the salary of the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau (Resolution CE95.R4); and

 Bearing in mind the provisions of Staff Rule 330.3,

Resolves:

1. To establish the net salary of the Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau at $65,320 (dependency rate) or $58,918 (single rate) per annum, effective 1 January 1985.

2. To note that, consequent upon the salary adjustment for the Director, appropriate reduction will be made in the post adjustment rate.

September 1985 OD 203, 62

 

 

CD31.R20    The Directing Council,

 Having seen the report on the progress of the implementation of the Organization's essential drug program (Document CD31/8); and

 Considering that the Program is progressing in accordance with the recommendations1 approved by the XXIX Meeting of the Directing Council of PAHO,

Resolves:

1. To recommend that the Member Governments:

a) Formulate intersectoral policies and implement national programs on essential drugs, recognizing the importance of such drugs for the extension of coverage of health services and the need to rationalize expenditures for these drugs;

b) Ensure that drugs marketed are of good quality and available at reasonable cost to all sectors of the population;

c) Promote and monitor the rational and wise prescription and use of marketed drugs;

d) Give emphasis to the analysis and formulation of pharmaceutical policies, to the strengthening of controls and quality assurance, to the development of systems for the supply of essential drugs, to the encouragement of domestic production where this is economically feasible and where countries are able to meet quality standards, and to manpower training, operations research, and evaluation mechanisms;

e) Examine the possibilities held forth by technical and economic cooperation among developing countries (TCDC/ECDC) for solution of the problems involved in making drugs accessible to populations in the Region.

2. To request the Director:

a) To continue promoting cooperation by the Organization in the development and implementation of program activities relating to essential drugs, in collaboration with WHO's Action Program on Essential Drugs;

b) To mobilize extrabudgetary resources for strengthening the Regional program and improving its capability for technical cooperation in support of national programs on essential drugs;

c) To support TCDC/ECDC activities directed at finding ways to improve the supply of drugs of adequate quality at the lowest possible prices in the countries of the Region.

September 1985 OD 203, 63

 

 

CD31.R21    The Directing Council,

 Having considered the report presented by the Director on the progress made by the Member Countries in the use of technical and economic cooperation among developing countries (TCDC/ECDC) with the support of PAHO/WHO (Document CD31/20), and bearing in mind Resolution III1 of the XXX Meeting of the Directing Council (1984),

Resolves:

1. To urge the Member Governments and the Director to continue the appropriate steps alluded to in operative paragraphs 2 and 3 of Resolution III of the XXX Meeting of the Directing Council on the use of TCDC/ECDC.

2. To request the Director to report to the Governing Bodies of the Organization in 1986 on the progress made in the use of TCDC/ECDC by the Member Governments and the Organization.

3. To request the Director to favor the initiatives of the countries that serve to strengthen the activities of TCDC/ECDC within the Region and among the interested countries.

September 1985 OD 203, 64

 

 

CD31.R22    The Directing Council

 Having considered the Director's report on the Expanded Program on Immunization in the Americas (EPI) and the report of the 95th Meeting of the Executive Committee;

 Noting the overall improvement made at the national level in the implementation of this program and the impact already achieved in reducing morbidity by poliomyelitis;

 Believing that an attempt to eradicate poliomyelitis presents a challenge and a stimulus to the world to mobilize the resources to achieve the objective, and that the support required is available nationally and internationally; and

 Recognizing that the realization of this objective will enhance the overall success of the EPI,

Resolves:

1. To congratulate the Director on the report presented.

2. To reaffirm its full commitment to reach the overall goals of the EPI by 1990.

3. To accept the Proposal for Action for the eradication of indigenous transmission of wild poliovirus from the Americas by 1990 and declare the goals established in the Proposal for Action as one of the major objectives of the Organization.

4. To urge Member Governments:

a) To take the necessary steps to accelerate their EPI programs to assure the achievement of the overall objectives of the EPI and of the eradication of indigenous transmission of wild poliovirus from the Americas by 1990;

b) To make the needed commitment and allocate the necessary resources for program implementation;

c) To promote support towards these goals within those technical and financial multilateral agencies of which they are also members.

5. To draw the attention of the Member Governments to the necessity that:

a) Immunization programs not be implemented at the expense of efforts to develop the infrastructure of health services and their overall promotion, prevention, and care activities;

b) The strategy of campaigns and the tactic of national vaccination days be viewed as ad hoc measures, to be gradually replaced by regular immunization services performed routinely by health services.

6. To request the Director:

a) To seek the additional political and material support needed for the realization of these goals from multilateral, bilateral, and nongovernmental agencies;

b) To initiate immediate action as outlined in the Proposal for Action to assure the necessary technical and financial support for the eradication of indigenous transmission of wild poliovirus from the Americas by 1990;

c) To submit a progress report to the 97th Meeting of the Executive Committee and the XXII Pan American Sanitary Conference in 1986.

September 1985 OD 203, 65

 

 

CD31.R23    The Directing Council,

 Having seen the document presented by the Director on the progress of regional and national emergency preparedness programs (Document CD31/18);

 Considering Resolutions X, XXXVI, and XL of the XXIV, XXVI, and XXVII Directing Council meetings, respectively, on the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Coordination Program;

 Being aware of the increasing vulnerability of the Region of the Americas to negative health consequences of all types of disasters, and in particular those resulting from industrialization and urbanization processes;

 Concerned about the need to maintain the technical cooperation provided by the Organization independently from the support received by PAHO from funding agencies;

 Stressing that it is the national responsibility of each Member Government and especially of the Minister of Health as head of the sector to establish, as recommended by the Directing Council in its XXVI Meeting, an "ongoing program to update emergency plans, train health personnel, and promote research, and case studies to improve disaster management1," and

 Noting the importance of maintaining close cooperation between the Organization and other regional or global programs of WHO, Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator (UNDRO), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and nongovernmental organizations,

Resolves:

1. To urge Member Governments who have not done so to establish within the Ministry of Health an emergency preparedness and disaster relief coordination program responsible for continuously updating emergency plans, training health personnel, developing national guidelines, and coordinating within and outside the sector.

2. To recommend to Member Governments that they cooperate with the Director in reinforcing the technical resources available to them for cooperation with other countries in preparing for disaster cases.

3. To request the Director to consider measures to maintain and increase the Organization's regular support to national programs.

4. To thank the Governments of Canada and the United States of America for their extrabudgetary support of the disaster preparedness program of the Organization.

5. To request the Director to strengthen, if possible, the Organization's technical cooperation and coordination in preparing the health sector to respond effectively to health problems caused by technological disasters, such as explosions and chemical accidents, as well as by displacements of large population groups caused by natural or man-made disasters.

6. To request the Director to explore the availability of additional funds from extrabudgetary sources and to continue the Organization's efforts to ensure that disaster prevention and preparedness be an integral part of the activities of the technical programs and professional staff of the Organization.

7. To encourage the Director to pursue his policy of joint activities and close cooperation with other regional offices of the World Health Organization, UNDRO, UNHCR, bilateral organizations, and governmental organizations, whenever appropriate.

8. To ask the Director to report on progress made towards compliance with this resolution at the Directing Council meeting in 1987.

September 1985 OD 203, 67

 

 

CD31.R24    The Directing Council,

 Noting that the XVIII1 and XX2 Pan American Sanitary Conferences drew up general guidelines for the establishment and operation of multinational centers;

 Recognizing that the Pan American Centers are integral components of the respective PAHO programs and constitute an effective mechanism for combining the functions of advisory services, teaching, research, and dissemination of information in accordance with the needs of the countries;

 Considering that the Pan American Centers are justified for fulfilling specific activities until such time as the countries and/or national institutions acquire the technical and institutional capacity for carrying out the corresponding functions whereby the Centers would no longer be needed;

 Considering the need to improve efficiency and obtain maximum use of resources; and

 Noting the contents of the Director's report and the progress made to date on these matters, especially in the Pan American Zoonoses Center (Document CD31/10),

Resolves:

1. To request the Director to continue to take appropriate actions to improve the cost effectiveness and efficiency of Centers in the use of available resources, including the establishment of new administrative and personnel systems at the Pan American Centers.

2. To confirm the Organization's long-term goal of working towards the transfer of the administration of the Centers to host countries, if and when national institutions are able to maintain the quality and quantity of services provided to Member Countries under existing administrative arrangements.

3. To ask the Director to report to the next meeting of the Directing Council on actions taken and progress made on this matter.

September 1985 OD 203, 68

 

 

CD31.R25    The Directing Council

 Noting the magnitude and severity of the public health threat posed by all known forms of viral hepatitis, especially hepatitis B and delta hepatitis, as described in Document CD31/16.

 Realizing that new advances in technology have now made interventions for hepatitis control more practical and feasible, especially for hepatitis B; and

 Observing the development of the worldwide WHO program for hepatitis control and the need to develop regional approaches to the control of hepatitis,

Resolves:

1. To thank the Director for preparing the report "Prospects for the Control of Hepatitis in the Americas" (Document CD31/16), and bringing it to the attention of the Council.

2. To endorse the regional approaches to hepatitis control outlined in the document.

3. To request the Director:

a) To encourage Member Governments to develop the epidemiological information required to further define the magnitude of this problem and to define the seroepidemiology of hepatitis in their populations;

b) To stimulate collaboration among the Member Countries, especially through the establishment of a network of laboratories for the production and distribution of reagents and vaccines for the diagnosis and control of viral hepatitis, and to encourage and support the production of hepatitis B vaccine in those countries where it is feasible and necessary.

4. To request the Member Countries to collaborate with the Director in the implementation of regional approaches to the control of hepatitis.

5. To request the Director to evaluate periodically the progress made by countries in the control of hepatitis, especially hepatitis B.

September 1985 OD 203, 69

 

 

CD31.R26    The Directing Council

 Having considered the Director's report on Aedes aegypti/flavivirus control and eradication (Document CD31/19);

 Bearing in mind that extensive areas are still infested by Aedes aegypti in the Americas and there is a serious problem of reinfestation in many of the countries; and

 Recognizing the serious threat to health and economic development posed by the risk of appearance of urban yellow fever and the possible aggravation of the dengue situation in the Americas.

Resolves:

1. To urge the Governments of the countries and territories still infested with Aedes aegypti to take appropriate actions to overcome barriers that may be hindering progress in their programs to control or eradicate this vector, giving necessary attention to the allocation of funds, personnel, and materials for these programs, and to implement measures for preventing exportation of the vector to other countries.

2. To recommend to those Governments of countries and territories already free of Aedes aegypti that they maintain their surveillance efforts at a level necessary to detect and eliminate any reinfestation which may occur.

3. To request the Director:

a) To encourage and support the mobilization of national, subregional, and regional resources;

b) To promote intergovernmental and intersectoral mechanisms which may facilitate Aedes aegypti control and eradication activities.

c) To stimulate the utilization of technological advances, the participation of an informed community, and the training of health personnel in new prevention, surveillance, and control approaches.

September 1985 OD 203, 70

 

 

CD31.R27    The Directing Council

 Having considered Document CD31/22 and Add. I, constituting the chapter for the Region of the Americas for inclusion in the Evaluation of the Strategy for Health for All by the Year 2000: Seventh Report on the World Health Situation;1

 Recognizing that the submission for the Region of the Americas is prepared in response to the resolutions of the World Health Assembly; and

 Bearing in mind that the submission from this Region will be published in the Seventh Report on the World Health Situation along with reports from other WHO Regions.

Resolves:

1. To revise the submission for the Region of the Americas based on the suggestions of Member Governments during the XXXI Meeting of the Directing Council.

2. To request the Director to submit the Regional Evaluation Report to WHO Headquarters following the specifications required by the WHO Secretariat.

3. To thank the Director for the preparation of the statement from this Region.

September 1985 OD 203, 71